harassment

From Just For Laughs, to WestJet, to the RCMP, these burgeoning cases underscore that, in the #MeToo world, employers, corporations and executives are facing increased risk where permissive cultures and weak governance structures may have enabled instances of harassment.

The Federal Government has recently introduced Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment and violence), the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, which provides for significant changes in how federally-regulated workplaces must address workplace violence and harassment. Bill C-65 follows a year-long public consultation commissioned by the Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour that concluded that harassment and violence in workplaces is underreported and not dealt with effectively when reported.

On December 9, 2014, Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act, the Competition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (Act) – also known as the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act –, received the royal assent. The Act came into force on March 9, 2015.

In a case that has gained significant media attention, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has held that the name of a 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly defamed and bullied online, should be revealed to the public.